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A US woman is suing a fertility doctor after discovering through an online ancestry website the man had secretly fathered her.
- Kelli Rowlette took a DNA test in July through Ancestry.com
- It identified Dr Gerald Mortimer as her parent
- Lawsuit alleges Dr Mortimer used his sperm against the couple's wishes
Kelli Rowlette and the parents who raised her, Sally Ashby and her then-husband Howard Fowler, filed the lawsuit in Idaho district court in March against Dr Gerald Mortimer, his wife and the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Associates of Idaho Falls.
The retired doctor could not be reached for comment. His former practice said the current doctors were not involved.
Ms Rowlette said she took a DNA test in July through Ancestry.com, which identified Dr Mortimer as her parent.
Ms Ashby then told Ms Rowlette for the first time that she was conceived through artificial insemination using a sperm donor.
The lawsuit alleges Dr Mortimer used his own sperm for the procedure, secretly and against the couple's wishes to use a college student.
Ms Ashby and Mr Fowler sought help from Dr Mortimer in 1979 because they were having trouble conceiving a child.
Dr Mortimer recommended artificial insemination, or using a mix of semen from Mr Fowler and an anonymous donor, chosen by the couple based on whatever characteristics they desired.
They chose a donor who was in college and who looked like Mr Fowler — over 1.80 metres tall with brown hair and blue eyes.
Dr Mortimer told the couple he had a donor in mind, and he performed the artificial insemination procedure three times a month throughout the summer of 1980.
Ms Rowlette was born in May 1981. Dr Mortimer delivered her.
The complaint alleges Dr Mortimer instead used his own semen, and when Ms Rowlette was conceived, she was Dr Mortimer's biological offspring.
"Since discovering Dr Mortimer's actions, Ms Ashby, Mr Fowler and Mrs Rowlette have been suffering immeasurably," the complaint states.
The suit alleges medical negligence, failure to obtain informed consent, fraud, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract and violations of the Idaho Consumer Protection Act.
Ms Rowlette, Ms Ashby and Mr Fowler are seeking as-yet undetermined damages in excess of $US75,000 ($97,616)— the minimum amount to pursue such a case in federal court.
AP
Topics: pregnancy-and-childbirth, health, human-interest, doctors-and-medical-professionals, united-states
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